Man accuses cops of torture

RAWALPINDI - Police mercilessly tortured a 56-year-old man in Misrial village, within the limits of Police Station Chontra, over the allegation of violating Punjab Sound System Regulation Ordinance 2015, sources informed The Nation on Monday.

Police, instead of filing case against the accused, had allegedly demanded bribe from him and forcefully got a written statement that he would not violate PSSRO 2015 next time, sources said.

According to sources, a heavy contingent of police raided the house of Safdar living in Misrial Village on January 26 and arrested him. Later, the man was taken to nearby Noor Mosque where the police seized sound system and then shifted him to police chowky Chak Beli, where Sub-Inspector (SI) Nasir, the in charge allegedly ordered his subordinates to torture him. The police allegedly kept the man detained in chowky for whole night; had not registered case against him; demanded bribe from him and set him free only after taking in written on piece of paper that he would not violate the ordinance in future.

When contacted, Safdar told this scribe that police arrested him without any reason. He also claimed that police tortured him brutally. He said that police also demanded Rs 30000 as bribe and took his statement forcefully on paper that he would not make violation in future. He said that he had not committed the crime for which he was arrested and tortured by police.

He said he lodged complaint with SP Saddar Circle, who summoned SI Nasir for inquiry. “I also shown torture marks to SP in his office,” he said.

SI Nasir, however, when contacted, denied the allegations that police had tortured Safdar. Nonetheless, SI Nasir admitted that SP Saddar summoned him on complaint of Safdar.

On the other hand, controversy triggered between the SHO Westridge and administration of Jamia Mosque over use of more than one amplifier during Adhan (call for prayer). The administration insisted that four speakers would be used during Adhan whereas police barred them from doing so. Administration claimed that the sound of Adhan could not be echoed with one speaker.

SHO PS Westridge Malik Arif, talking to The Nation, said that police would implement PSSRO 2015 in its true sprit. He said that he held a meeting with locals and told them that government banned the use of more than one amplifier during Adhan.